Small anemone found half-dead on live rock, any way to help it recover?

Adrian_

Posted 11 March 2012 - 12:44 PM

Adrian_

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A frind of mine, who is starting a new tank, purchased a large quantity of live rock, and on it there was this small anemone, less then 2 inches wide when fully opened. Unfortunatelly we noticed it about 3 days after the live rock went into a barell for curing.

I took it to my aquarium to try and save it, but it's condition is poor: it attached to a rock and is capable of moving it's top toward a light source, but some internal organs are hanging outside it's oral orifice.

The little thing is very cute and I'd like to give it a chance, but I'm clueless about how can I help it, except for providing it with a stable environment. Any ideas from those who managed to save an anemone in the past?

jedimasterben

Posted 12 March 2012 - 10:07 AM

not sure about anemones but if they are spilling out their organs = dying = remove from tank asap

I've also heard that when babies cry, they are dying, so you should just throw them in a dumpster.

Just let it be for a bit. I've had nems do the same thing (they are expelling waste and/or zooxanthellae, not their internal organs), and are still living several months later with their color coming back.

When it retracts and looks normal again, give it plenty of light and attempt to feed it tiny pieces of silverside or something like mysis shrimp (target fed, of course). If it is not sticky and doesn't grasp the food, then hopefully plenty of light will give it a fighting chance.

Adrian_

Posted 26 March 2012 - 02:55 PM

Adrian_

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Actually yes

It got most of it's zooxanthellae back in after about 3 days (some pieces were dragged by the current but I managed to pick them up). Then I placed it on a small piece of rock really close to the lights, it stayed there a few days looking better and better, then slowly moved to a more discrete spot between two rocks, where it can retract itself at night.

Yesterday I finally got it to eat a small chunk of shrimp. I'll post some photos tomorrow.